The ALS Association: Advocacy Archive

March 9, 2009

President Lifts Restrictions on Stem Cell Research

Today, President Obama signed an Executive Order which lifts current restrictions that have limited federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. Under the previous policy, implemented by President Bush, federal funds could not be used to support embryonic stem cell research involving stem cell lines derived after August 9, 2001.

The ALS Association released a statement today applauding the President's action. With this Executive Order, the research community may now pursue new opportunities to advance our understanding of ALS as well as identify biomarkers and new treatments for the disease.

We would like to thank advocates across the country who have contacted the President in recent weeks urging him to make this policy change. Your efforts have paid off! Please take a minute to send a thank you letter to the President.

Next Steps

In the coming weeks and months, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will develop guidelines to implement this new policy. During this time, The ALS Association, along with the Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research, of which The ALS Association is an active member, will work with the NIH and Congress to ensure that appropriate ethical and scientific policies are in place to guide the advancement of stem cell research. This is especially critical to allow NIH to take advantage of $10 billion in additional funding that was included for NIH in the recently enacted economic stimulus package.

Stem Cell Research Featured at 2009 ALS Advocacy Conference

This year's Advocacy Conference, which takes place in Washington DC May 10-12, also will feature a breakout session devoted exclusively to ALS stem cell research. Among the confirmed speakers is Dr. Story Landis, Director of the National Institutes of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, and head of the NIH Stem Cell Task Force. Dr. Landis and other panelists will provide the latest updates on stem cell research including how the NIH plans to implement the new policy. Additional details about the session and the conference agenda are available here.

ALS Association Stem Cell Research Information

The ALS Association directs and funds a range of stem cell research projects in the search for new discoveries and potential therapies. For more information from The ALS Association about stem cell research, click here.

If you have any questions about this update or about the 2009 National ALS Advocacy Day and Public Policy Conference, please contact us at [email protected] or toll-free at 1-877-444-2572. If you have questions about reserving ADA hotel rooms or transportation and other hotel related questions concerning this year's Public Policy Conference, please contact Mary Wisniewski, event planner for the conference, at [email protected] or 202-746-0043.